GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES 2025-2026 : A historic first WNBA title

Published on November 5, 2026 8 min. reading

They’ve done it ! On 31 October 2026, the Golden State Valkyries lifted their very first WNBA title at the end of a gruelling seven-game series against the Atlanta Dream. An extraordinary achievement for a franchise that didn’t even exist just two years ago. Electrifying tension, fierce rivalries and tactical masterpieces… A full account of a historic triumph led by Gabby Williams, the first Frenchwoman to be named Finals MVP.

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A MAGICAL NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO

31 October 2026 will go down in history as the night the ‘Ballhalla’ finally opened its doors to eternity. In a Chase Centre buzzing with excitement, the atmosphere was every bit as good as the Golden State Warriors’ finest NBA play-off fixtures.

Whilst the outcome may resemble a Hollywood fairy tale, the journey itself is more a testament to pure sporting prowess and flawless tactical engineering. When the team was founded in 2024, scepticism prevailed within the WNBA’s 13th franchise. This was particularly true given that the Valkyries took everyone by surprise with their initial decisions. No flashy signings, no overpaid superstars snapped up for a fortune. Instead, they fielded hard-working players, a group of fiercely determined individuals and a coaching staff with a burning ambition.

Facing them were the Atlanta Dream. Led by head coach Karl Smesko, this team represented the perfect antithesis to Golden State: raw physicality, youth and a determination to impose a gruelling pace. Seven rounds of basketball turned into a giant game of chess.

At the heart of this clash, one figure eventually rose above the fray to become a legend. Her name? Gabby Williams! The Franco-American delivered a monumental Game 7, scoring 30 points whilst playing a crucial role at the decisive moments. This masterclass was rewarded with the WNBA Finals MVP award – a first in the history of French basketball.

TWO SQUADS, TWO PHILOSOPHIES

It wasn’t just two teams, but two visions and two very different styles that went head-to-head in the 2026 WNBA Finals.

Golden State Valkyries (Coach: Natalie Nakase)

– Starting five : Veronica Burton (point guard), Tiffany Hayes (shooting guard), Gabby Williams (small forward), Kaila Charles (small forward), Kiah Stokes (centre)

– Key substitutes : Aminata Gueye, Carla Leite, Illiana Rupert

The Valkyries’ system : strength in defence and basketball IQ

Built without a dominant superstar from the outset, Natalie Nakase’s team relies on absolute defensive solidarity. Gabby Williams is its beating heart. The French international is just as capable of locking down any position in defence as she is of initiating counter-attacks or driving through gaps in the defence. Alongside her, Veronica Burton orchestrates the tempo with surgical precision, whilst Kiah Stokes secures the paint. On the bench, the young French player Aminata Gueye and the liveliness of Carla Leite provide the athletic depth essential for maintaining the pressure for a full forty minutes.

Atlanta Dream (Coach : Karl Smesko)

– Starting five : Jordin Canada (point guard), Rhyne Howard (shooting guard), Allisha Gray (guard), Naz Hillmon (power forward), Angel Reese (centre)

– Key substitutes : Dewanna Bonner, Isabel Borlase

The Dream’s system : athletic dominance and offensive flair

Under Karl Smesko’s guidance, Atlanta play a high-intensity, high-risk brand of basketball. Angel Reese is the linchpin of this side. A true predator on the offensive rebound, she poses a constant physical challenge beneath the opposition’s basket. Alongside her, Rhyne Howard is a constant threat from behind the arc, whilst Jordin Canada sets a frenetic pace in transition. This team thrives on emotion, quick scoring runs and repeated physical contact.

Closer to the game…

Closer to the light !

LE RÉSUMÉ DU COMBAT EN 7 ROUNDS

Game 1 (San Francisco – Chase Centre) : Valkyries 68–64 Dream

True to form, the Valkyries put up a tough defence right from the start. The plan is clear: cut off Atlanta’s passing lanes and deny Angel Reese easy shots in the paint. Kiah Stokes contested every shot at the basket, whilst Veronica Burton hounded Jordin Canada all over the court. Atlanta struggled to find their range from distance (28 per cent from three-point range). In a nail-biting finale, a crucial mid-range shot from Tiffany Hayes with 45 seconds left on the clock sealed the win for the Valkyries. Golden State took the lead (1–0).

Game 2 (San Francisco – Chase Centre) : Valkyries 65 – 79 Dream

Stung by the defeat, the Atlanta players came back with redoubled aggression. Angel Reese showed unwavering determination and completely dominated the rebound battle. Caught in the grip of Georgia’s full-court press, the Valkyries committed 18 turnovers, which turned into easy baskets and long-range shots for Rhyne Howard. Atlanta pulled away in the third quarter thanks to a devastating 14-2 run. The Dream wiped out the Californians’ home advantage before the eyes of a stunned crowd (1-1).

Game 3 (Atlanta – State Farm Arena) : Dream 97–71 Valkyries

The trip to Georgia turned into a defensive nightmare for Golden State. Spurred on by a raucous crowd, Atlanta’s outside players were in fine form: fluid ball movement and clinical shooting, epitomised by Rhyne Howard’s 26 points. The Valkyries were outpaced on every defensive transition. Despite Gabby Williams’ relentless effort, the deficit had already reached 18 points at half-time (52–34) before the Dream extended the final margin to 26 points. Atlanta took the lead in the series (2–1).

Game 4 (Atlanta – State Farm Arena) : Dream 62–67 Valkyries

With their backs against the wall, Golden State went into this fourth game under the pressure of a potential knockout blow. Natalie Nakase tweaked her tactics and tightened her defence to force Atlanta into difficult shots at the end of their possessions. The match turned into a battle of attrition. Trailing by five points with four minutes to go, the Valkyries found salvation thanks to two killer three-pointers from Stephanie Talbot and a decisive block by Kiah Stokes on Howard with 30 seconds remaining. Williams sealed the deal from the free-throw line: the series is now level at 2–2.

Game 5 (San Francisco – Chase Centre) : Valkyries 64–55 Dream

Back on home turf, the Valkyries put on a masterclass in defensive discipline. Kiah Stokes shut down the paint against the Hillmon–Reese duo, completely cutting off any second-chance opportunities. At the other end of the court, Gabby Williams took charge in the fourth quarter, breaking down the opposition’s defence with her powerful drives to the basket. By limiting the Dream to just 55 points, Golden State regained control and set themselves up with two chances to clinch the title (3–2).

Game 6 (Atlanta – State Farm Arena) : Dream 80–69 Valkyries

In a electric State Farm Arena in the early afternoon, Atlanta refused to give up. Angel Reese put up a Herculean fight under the baskets and dominated the physical battle. The Valkyries, no doubt rattled by the prospect of an early title, lacked accuracy and bite. Despite a surge led by Burton after the break, Jordin Canada’s individual heroics in the closing stages forced a decisive seventh game. On to Game 7 (3–3).

Game 7 (San Francisco – Chase Centre) : Valkyries 68–63 Dream

The very first Game 7 in the history of the WNBA Finals got underway in a tense, almost stifling atmosphere. The tension paralysed the attacks and, at half-time, Gabby Williams had scored just two measly points. That was when the game turned on its head: after the break, the French forward produced a second-half performance for the history books, racking up 28 points (including 15 in the third quarter alone). With 2 minutes and 14 seconds remaining, it was she who stepped up and sank a three-pointer (60–57) to send the crowd into raptures. The Valkyries held firm against the final onslaught: Golden State are WNBA champions (4–3).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SERIES

– Angel Reese’s taunt (Game 2) : After scoring a basket whilst being fouled under the basket, Reese made the ‘too small’ gesture towards the Californian bench. The image went viral on social media and served as direct motivation in the Valkyries’ changing room to close ranks.

– The Aminata Gueye vs Angel Reese showdown (Game 4) : Called upon to counter Atlanta’s power in the paint, the young French centre found herself in direct confrontation with the American star. A fierce battle under the boards that prompted Nakase to rethink his interior rotations for the rest of the series.

– The emotion at the final whistle : As soon as the match ended, Angel Reese’s disappointment was plain to see. A fierce competitor who had given her all throughout these seven encounters, the centre left the court with her face hidden by a towel, flanked by her loved ones, illustrating just how gruelling the ordeal had been.

THE IMPACT OF THE TITLE

This title win is reshaping the landscape of women’s basketball in several ways :

– The Valkyries’ business model : By playing to a full house at every match at the Chase Centre, with an average attendance of over 18,000, and by dominating jersey sales from the moment they joined the league, Golden State has proven that an expansion project backed by substantial financial and logistical investment can be profitable and successful without having to wait years.

– A first for French basketball : The presence of three French players crowned champions in the same season – Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün and Aminata Gueye – sets a historic record. Gabby Williams’s honour, having been named Finals MVP, places the captain of Les Bleues amongst the leading figures on the world stage.

– The enduring success of ‘Ballhalla’ : By turning the Chase Centre into a fortress in just its second season, the San Francisco franchise has now established itself as a benchmark in the modern WNBA.

Article by Bénédicte Amba